LeonCarr
Member
This evening I went to the range and did some highly informal, highly unscientific, and highly fun pattern testing of 11 different 00 Buckshot loads.
The test shotgun consisted of a Remington 870 Express HD 12 Gauge with 18.5 inch Cylinder Bore barrel. I checked the bore diameter at the muzzle with a dial caliper and it measured .730, a true Cylinder Bore. I chose this barrel due to the open choke allowing each load to stand on its own without the effect of choke on the pattern.
The test consisted of one round of each load fired at a distance of 50 feet. I used sheets of moving/packing paper 24 inches by 24 inches with an orange dot in the center of the paper for the targets.
I went into the test knowing what some of the tightest patterning loads would probably be, but several loads surprised me. Here are the numbers, starting with the tightest shooting loads first, rounded to the nearest 1/4 inch. All of the loads were 9 pellets, with the exception of the two 3 Inch Magnum loads, which were 15 pellets:
Federal Tactical Flitecontrol 00 (LE132 00) 1145 fps - 4.00 inches
Federal Power-Shok 00 (F127 00) 1325 fps - 6.00 inches
Federal Premium Vital-Shok 00 (P154 00) 1325 fps - 7.50 inches
Estate Cartridge 00 1325 fps - 9.25 inches
Fiocchi 12LE00BK 1150 fps - 9.25 inches
Federal Premium Vital-Shok Flitecontrol 00 (PFC154 00) 1325 fps - 11.50 inches
Winchester Winlite 00 1200 fps - 11.75 inches
Winchester Super-X 00 1325 fps - 11.75 inches
Rio Royal Low Recoil 00 1200 fps - 13.00 inches
Winchester Super-X 3 Inch Magnum 15 Pellet 00 - 15.00 inches
Remington Magnum Buckshot 3 Inch Magnum 15 Pellet 00 - 19.00 inches (12 out of 15 pellets on paper)
Observations:
No surprise the LE132 Flitecontrol was the tight pattern of the test. My home defense shotgun (The one used in this test) stays loaded with this load.
The Federal F127 Power-Shok that came in 2nd Place was the big surprise, out shooting several Premium loads including an almost 50% tighter pattern than the full power PFC154 Flitecontrol load. This load is usually found packed 175 rounds to a .50 caliber type ammo can.
The Federal Premium Vital-Shok P154 load also shot better than its PFC154 counterpart. The only difference between the two loads is the Flitecontrol Wad in the PFC154.
The Estate Cartridge 00 Buckshot load was interesting in that the pattern consisted of the wad cutting a hole very near the point of impact, and 5 pellet holes comprising the pattern. It appeared that the remaining 4 pellets were staying inside the shot cup. This load is now manufactured by Federal, and is similar in construction to the Federal F127 load.
The Fiocchi 00 load was the only one in the test with nickel plated pellets. The pellets were contained in a birdshot type wad with no buffer material. Consistent round pattern with no flyers.
The Federal PFC154 load was the big let down of the test, with multiple lower cost loads shooting tighter patterns.
Both Winchester 2.75 inch loads, the Winlite and the Super-X, were similar in construction and disassembly of the rounds showed the pellets, wads and buffer used were identical, with different powders used for the different velocities.
The Rio Royal Low Recoil 00, when bought by the case, cost me $2.51 per five round box making it the least expensive load of the test. With no shotcup, no buffer, and soft lead unplated pellets it still patterned better than the 3 Inch Magnum loads.
The 3 Inch Magnum patterns were big, with the Remington pattern having 3 out of 15 pellets miss the 24" x 24" target paper at 50 feet.
In closing, all of the loads tested except the Remington 3 Inch would stay inside the scoring rings of a B-27 Silhouette Target out to 50 feet. Unless you live in a really big house
, any of these loads would work for home defense. I have heard several experts say the best buckshot for home defense is whats on sale. After shooting this test I still like the Federal Tactical Flitecontrol 00, but it is good to know several good alternatives exist.
I learned a lot testing this ammo, and I just wanted to pass it along.
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
The test shotgun consisted of a Remington 870 Express HD 12 Gauge with 18.5 inch Cylinder Bore barrel. I checked the bore diameter at the muzzle with a dial caliper and it measured .730, a true Cylinder Bore. I chose this barrel due to the open choke allowing each load to stand on its own without the effect of choke on the pattern.
The test consisted of one round of each load fired at a distance of 50 feet. I used sheets of moving/packing paper 24 inches by 24 inches with an orange dot in the center of the paper for the targets.
I went into the test knowing what some of the tightest patterning loads would probably be, but several loads surprised me. Here are the numbers, starting with the tightest shooting loads first, rounded to the nearest 1/4 inch. All of the loads were 9 pellets, with the exception of the two 3 Inch Magnum loads, which were 15 pellets:
Federal Tactical Flitecontrol 00 (LE132 00) 1145 fps - 4.00 inches
Federal Power-Shok 00 (F127 00) 1325 fps - 6.00 inches
Federal Premium Vital-Shok 00 (P154 00) 1325 fps - 7.50 inches
Estate Cartridge 00 1325 fps - 9.25 inches
Fiocchi 12LE00BK 1150 fps - 9.25 inches
Federal Premium Vital-Shok Flitecontrol 00 (PFC154 00) 1325 fps - 11.50 inches
Winchester Winlite 00 1200 fps - 11.75 inches
Winchester Super-X 00 1325 fps - 11.75 inches
Rio Royal Low Recoil 00 1200 fps - 13.00 inches
Winchester Super-X 3 Inch Magnum 15 Pellet 00 - 15.00 inches
Remington Magnum Buckshot 3 Inch Magnum 15 Pellet 00 - 19.00 inches (12 out of 15 pellets on paper)
Observations:
No surprise the LE132 Flitecontrol was the tight pattern of the test. My home defense shotgun (The one used in this test) stays loaded with this load.
The Federal F127 Power-Shok that came in 2nd Place was the big surprise, out shooting several Premium loads including an almost 50% tighter pattern than the full power PFC154 Flitecontrol load. This load is usually found packed 175 rounds to a .50 caliber type ammo can.
The Federal Premium Vital-Shok P154 load also shot better than its PFC154 counterpart. The only difference between the two loads is the Flitecontrol Wad in the PFC154.
The Estate Cartridge 00 Buckshot load was interesting in that the pattern consisted of the wad cutting a hole very near the point of impact, and 5 pellet holes comprising the pattern. It appeared that the remaining 4 pellets were staying inside the shot cup. This load is now manufactured by Federal, and is similar in construction to the Federal F127 load.
The Fiocchi 00 load was the only one in the test with nickel plated pellets. The pellets were contained in a birdshot type wad with no buffer material. Consistent round pattern with no flyers.
The Federal PFC154 load was the big let down of the test, with multiple lower cost loads shooting tighter patterns.
Both Winchester 2.75 inch loads, the Winlite and the Super-X, were similar in construction and disassembly of the rounds showed the pellets, wads and buffer used were identical, with different powders used for the different velocities.
The Rio Royal Low Recoil 00, when bought by the case, cost me $2.51 per five round box making it the least expensive load of the test. With no shotcup, no buffer, and soft lead unplated pellets it still patterned better than the 3 Inch Magnum loads.
The 3 Inch Magnum patterns were big, with the Remington pattern having 3 out of 15 pellets miss the 24" x 24" target paper at 50 feet.
In closing, all of the loads tested except the Remington 3 Inch would stay inside the scoring rings of a B-27 Silhouette Target out to 50 feet. Unless you live in a really big house
, any of these loads would work for home defense. I have heard several experts say the best buckshot for home defense is whats on sale. After shooting this test I still like the Federal Tactical Flitecontrol 00, but it is good to know several good alternatives exist.I learned a lot testing this ammo, and I just wanted to pass it along.
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
Last edited:
